Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
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News release
January 17, 2008
CRTC approves initiatives to benefit Canadians with disabilities and expand rural broadband services
OTTAWA-GATINEAU — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today approved several initiatives that will benefit Canadians with disabilities and expand broadband services to rural and remote communities. The major local telephone companies were also directed by the Commission to finalize proposals for the dispersal of the funds in their deferral accounts.
“Today's decision will not only make telecommunications services more accessible to all Canadians, but also serve to enhance social and economic development in underserved communities,” said Len Katz, the CRTC's Vice-Chairman of Telecommunications.
The proposals approved by the Commission include initiatives to improve accessibility to telecommunications services for persons with disabilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. In developing their proposals, the companies consulted with federal and provincial governments, national and provincial organizations representing persons with disabilities, and researchers in the field.
With this decision, as well as one issued in July 2007, funds will also be used to expand broadband services to more than 350 rural and remote communities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
Any funds remaining in the deferral accounts will be rebated to the relevant residential subscribers living in urban areas in these provinces. The Commission directed the major local telephone companies to file, by March 25, 2008, proposals outlining how rebates could be most effectively made both in terms of benefits to customers and minimal disruption to companies.
It is estimated that over $650 million has accumulated in the deferral accounts since they were created in 2002. Bell Aliant (in Ontario and Quebec), Bell Canada, MTS Allstream, SaskTel and TELUS were required to place into their accounts an amount equal to the revenue reductions that would otherwise have resulted from the application of the price cap formula.
The CRTC
The CRTC is an independent, public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
Telecom Decision CRTC 2008-1 [.htm] [.pdf]
Reference documents: Telecom Decision CRTC 2007-50 [.htm] [.pdf]
News release, “CRTC directs funds in deferral accounts to expand rural broadband and services for Canadians with disabilities,” February 16, 2006
Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-9 [.htm] [.pdf]
Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2006-15 [.htm] [.pdf]
Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2004-1 [.htm]
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These documents are available in alternative format upon request.
Backgrounder on deferral accounts
About deferral accounts
In 2002, the Commission set out its price cap framework. This included rules governing the rates charged to residential and business consumers as well as to competitor companies by the major local telephone companies. One of the elements of the price regulation regime was the deferral account.
Price cap regulation places a ceiling on prices a company can charge its customers. At the same time, in order to avoid an adverse impact on local competition as a result of mandated rate reductions under the price cap framework, the Commission required each major local telephone company to create a deferral account. The companies were requested to place into those accounts amounts equal to the revenue reductions that would otherwise have resulted from an application of the price cap formula.
In 2006, the Commission determined that the funds that had accumulated in the deferral accounts should be used for the expansion of broadband (high-speed Internet) services and for initiatives to improve accessibility to telecommunications services for persons with disabilities. The Commission also concluded that any funds remaining after these initiatives had been approved should be rebated to the companies' residential local service subscribers in non-high-cost serving areas.
In 2007, the Commission revised its price cap framework and eliminated the deferral account mechanism. As such, no funds will be accumulated in the deferral accounts on a going forward basis.
Accessibility initiatives
The Commission has approved several proposals to improve accessibility to telecommunications services for persons with disabilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
The proposals included initiatives to:
- introduce Internet Protocol Relay, a text-based tool that would allow persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have difficulty speaking to communicate through the telephone system with hearing persons through a relay agent;
- introduce Video Relay Service, a service that would allow a person using sign language and another person using voice to communicate through a relay agent via high-speed Internet and video camera;
- improve Voice Activated Dialing service;
- enhance Directory Assistance;
- improve access to certain telecommunications services for persons with sight and mobility disabilities;
- improve accessibility to the websites of some of the major local telephone companies;
- establish a single point of contact for persons with disabilities to receive customer service tailored to the specific needs of the customer;
- conduct research into the needs of persons with disabilities during the development process of new products and services; and
- provide free teletypewriter (TTY) units to all Transition Houses in Saskatchewan.
Broadband expansion
The Commission has approved initiatives to expand broadband services to the following rural and remote communities, or nearby areas:
British Columbia
Anahim's Flat 1
Appledale
Beaver Valley
Beaver Valley (Big Lake Road N.)
Beaver Valley (Big Lake Road W.)
Beaver Valley (Marguerite Lake)
Beaver Valley (McInnes Lake)
Beaver Valley (Overton Road)
Blackpool
Bonaparte (Bonaparte 3)
Boswell
Boswell (Akokli Creek)
Boswell (Hepher Road)
Boswell (Mountain Shores)
Boswell (Redmond Road)
Boswell (Sanca Creek)
Bridge River No. 1
Canoe Creek
Chawathil
Cheslatta Carrier Nation (Cheslatta 1)
Christina Lake
Christina Lake (Cascade City)
Christina Lake (English Point)
Cluculz Lake (Bednesti)
Cluculz Lake (Bednesti Lake)
Cluculz Lake (Isle Pierre)
Coffin Point
Compton Island No. 6
Da'naxda'xw First Nation (Dead Point No. 5)
D'Arcy (Gates Lake)
Decker Lake
Decker Lake (Palling Road West)
Decker Lake (Rose Lane)
Ditidaht (Malachan 11)
Donald
Duncan Lake
Duncan Lake (Argenta)
Duncan Lake (Howser)
Duncan Lake (Johnson's Landing)
Duncan Lake (Lardeau)
Duncan Lake (Marblehead)
Duncan Lake (Meadow Creek)
East Pine
Ehattesaht (Chenahkint 12)
Elko
Elko (Baynes Lake)
Elko (Waldo Road)
Flatrock
Flatrock (Boundary Lake)
Francois Lake (Gallacher Road)
Francois Lake (Tchesinkut Lake)
Gitsegukla (Gitsegukla 1)
Glen Vowell (Sik-e-dakh 2)
Hansard
Hesquiaht
Hesquiaht (Refuge Cove 6)
High Bar No. 1
Hope Island No. 1
Inklyuhkinatko No. 2
Jaffray (Bull River)
Jaffray (Galloway)
Kahmoose No. 4
Kanaka Bar No. 1A
Kingsgate
Kitselas (Kulspai 6)
Kitwanga
Kitwanga (Boulder Creek)
Kitwanga (Cedarvale)
Kitwanga (Kitseguecla)
Kitwanga (Kitwancool)
Klahoose First Nations (Tork 7)
Kluskus No. 1
Kwiakah
Kwicksutaineuk-Ah-Kwaw-Ah-Mish (Gwayasdums No. 1)
Lake Babine Nation (Babine 6)
Lake Babine Nation (Pinkut Lake 23)
Lake Babine Nation Tachet Lake (Babine 25)
Lakelse Lake
Little Shuswap Lake (Chum Creek)
Loos
Manning Park
Manning Park (East Gate)
Marble Bay
McLeod Lake
McLeod Lake (McLeod Lake 1)
Mowachaht (BC024)
Mowachaht (BC064)
Mowachaht (Ahaminaquus 12)
Moyie
Nee-Tahi-Buhn (Uncha Lake 13A)
Neskonlith (Neskonlith No. 1)
Nicomen
Nimpo Lake
Nooaitch No. 10
Oclucje No. 7
Oregan Jack Creek No. 3
Pender Harbour (Earl's Cove)
Pender Harbour (Egmont)
Penelakut Spit (Kuper Island 7)
Port Simpson
Prophet River (Prophet River 4)
Puckatholetchin No. 11
Red Mountain (Red Mountain Ski Area)
Reid Lake (Reid Lake Road)
Sahhaltkum No. 4
Saltery Bay
Saulteau (East Moberly Lake 169)
Shackan No. 11
Siska (Siska Flat No. 3)
Skatin Nations (Skookumchuck 4)
Skeetchestn
Skin Tyee (Skins Lake No. 16A)
Skookumchuck (Lazy Lake)
Spuzzum (Spuzzum 1)
Stone No. 1
Thrums
Toosey No. 1
Trout Lake
Tsawatanineuk (Quaee 7)
Tsimpsean No. 2
Upper Nicola (Douglas Lake 3)
Vallican
Westwold (Monte Lake)
Wet'suwet'en (Palling No. 1)
Xeni Gwet'in First Nations Government (Chilco Lake No. 1A)
Yellow Point
Alberta
Alder Flats
Ashmont
Bear Canyon
Berwyn
Blue Ridge
Brocket
Buck Lake
Burdett
Bruce
Bymr/Byemoor
Calling Lake
Cardiff Echos
Chipewyan Lake
Clyde
Coutts
Derwent
Dixonville
Donalda
Donalda (Dnldab03)
Donnelly
East Coulee
Elkwater
Enchant
English Bay
Etzikom
Faust
Ferintosh
Flatbush
Foremost
Gift Lake
Girouxville
Gleichen
Grassy Lake
Hays
Heinsburg
Hsir/Heisler
Hilda
Hines Creek
Hobbema
Holden
Hussar
Irma
Iron Springs
Jarvie
Joussard
Keephills
Keg River
Legal
Leslieville
Longview
Ma-Me-O-Beach
Manyberries
Marlboro
Mclennan
Mulhurst
Mundare
New Dayton
Nordegg
Peerless Lake
Peers
Pickardville
Robb
Rochester
Rolling Hills
Rosalind
Rosebud
Saddle Lake I.R.
Schuler
Seba Beach
Seven Persons
Smith
Smoky Lake
Stirling
St. Michael
Tilley
Vilna
Walsh
Warner
Warspite
Waskatenau
Waterton Park
Whitelaw
Widewater
Wildwood
Worsley
Wrentham
Manitoba
Cooks Creek
Cranberry Portage
Dallas
Falcon River
Lee River
Lynn Lake
Nelson House
Oswald
Poplar Point
Rockwood
Roseau River
Sandy Bay
Sprucewoods
St. Eustache
Sunset Bay
Woodridge
Ontario
Acton
Ailsa Craig
Apsely
Armstrong
Bancroft
Barry's Bay
Beachville
Bluewater Beach
Blyth
Calabogie
Campbellville
Cartier
Clinton
Cloud Bay
Cobden
Creemore
Denbigh
Dorion
Dublin
Dundalk
Eagle River
Echo Bay
Feversham
Flesherton
Fort Erie
Gilmour
Goderich
Gogama
Golden Lake
Goulais
Kaministiquia
Lafontaine
Lucan
MacDiarmid
Madoc
Magnetawan
Marathon
Markdale
Maynooth
McKellar
Meaford
Morson
Nakina
Newtonville
Northbrook
Otter Lake
Oxdrift
Parry Sound
Pass Lake
Pelee Island
Pembroke
Petawawa
Pickle Lake
Plevna
Pointe au Baril
Ridgeway
Sauble Beach
Sault St. Marie-Airport
Sebright
Selkirk
Shebandowan
South River
Stevensville
St-Joseph Island
Stratton
Tamworth
Thornbury
Vermilion Bay
Wabigoon
Wawa
Wiarton
Winona
Quebec
Anse au Griffon
Arundel
Ayer's Cliff
Baie-St-Paul
Baie-Trinité
Bishopton
Bury
Cap des Rosiers
Clermont
Cloridorme
Colombier
Compton
Cookshire
Dunham
East Broughton
Franklin Centre
Gesgapegiag 2
Gros Morne
Hébertville-Station
Hemmingford
Henryville
Huntingdon
Île-aux-Coudres
Knowlton
Lac Sacré-Coeur
La Malbaie
L'Annonciation
La Romaine
Leeds
Longue Pointe de Mingan
Lourdes de Blanc Sablon
Mansonville
Marsoui
Mingan
Natashquan
Ormstown
Ristigouche-Partie-Sud-Est Cabinet
Rivière-Bleue
Rock Island
Saint-Alexis-de-Matapédia
Saint-Chrysostome
Saint-François-d'Assise
Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis
St-Augustin
St-Honoré (Témiscouata Co.)
St-Jean de la Lande
St-Joseph-des-Érables
Stratford Centre
St-Sébastien (Frontenac Co.)
St-Théophile
Sutton
Tring Jonction
Weedon
Date Modified: 2008-01-17
